October 21, 2025 • 53 mins
Actress Emily Rose (ER, Haven, Uncharted) joins us for an honest conversation about her path to Hollywood, not just the roles she’s played, but the values that have shaped her along the way.
We trace her journey from Seattle to UCLA, from early breaks to quiet seasons, and how she’s redefined success through stewardship over spotlight. From motion capture to motherhood, Emily shares what it really takes to keep going when the road gets long.
She also opens up about her creative process, how she builds characters from the inside out, and what she teaches young performers about purpose, boundaries, and serving others through the work.
If you love storytelling, character craft, faith in action or just need a reminder that success is about more than a résumé, then this episode is for you.
Don’t miss Emily’s latest role in All Is Merry and Bright, releasing this November.
Follow Emily Rose on:
www.instagram.com/emilyrosela/
-Links-
https://www.svetkapopov.com/
https://www.instagram.com/svetka_popov/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
SPEAKER_00 (00:00):
Hey friends, welcome to the Once Who Dared podcast,
where stories of courage areelevated.
I'm your host, Becca, and everyother week you'll hear
interviews from inspiringpeople.
My hope is that you will leaveencouraged.
I'm so glad you're here.
SPEAKER_01 (00:24):
Welcome to the OneSpare podcast.
I'm your host Becca.
And on today's episode, we'rejoined by actress Emily Rhodes,
noted for her standout role asAuditor Parker and Aiden.
She also starred in ER as wellas many other films, including
her latest Christmas moviecalled All Is Merry and Bright.
She's also the voice and motioncapture artist for Elena Fisher
(00:45):
in the popular Uncharted VideoGame Series.
But beyond acting, Emily hasalso ventured into directing,
voice acting, and producing,truly establishing herself as a
versatile force in the industry.
Today we're diving into her pathto Hollywood, the roles that
have defined her career, herpassion project, and how she's
navigating being a wife and amother of three.
(01:07):
Emily approaches everything witha spirit of excellence and
humility, and I really enjoyedour conversation, and so will
you.
Let's jump in.
Emily Rose, welcome to the Oncea Dare podcast.
I cannot believe that you saidyes and you're on here, and it's
such a privilege to um be ableto get to know your story and
interview you.
And so thank you so much forcoming on.
Thank you for my pleasure.
SPEAKER_02 (01:28):
Thank you so much.
I'm glad to be here.
You have some incredible storieson your podcast.
So I'm honored to be asked.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (01:35):
Aw, well, thank you so much.
Um, you are an actress and youhave quite the journey of
getting there and being featuredin so many different films, with
the newest one being All Is Maryand Bright, which I had the
privilege of seeing.
What a beautiful lesson.
It was, I was like tearing up inthat movie.
I'm like, this is such apowerful message of just getting
(01:59):
caught up in the wrong stuff,really striving and doing it all
right.
A lot as a lot of women do, wetry to carry so much, and it's
not all of ours to carry.
So I just, yeah, I appreciateyou and um you just coming on
here.
And um, I'd love to hear moreabout your story though, of how
(02:21):
you became an actress and likewho's Emily Rose besides, you
know, all the all the accoladesand Wikipedia and all that
stuff.
SPEAKER_02 (02:28):
Yeah, no, I'm just a girl from the Northwest.
I was born and raised about 30minutes south of Seattle, and I
had the privilege of growing upin some pretty small tiny
schools.
Um, my parents were pretty muchwhen it came time for college,
were like, well, what do youwant to study?
And I thought I was gonna be ahorse vet because I loved
(02:50):
horses.
Um, but then I realized when Iwent and sh um shadowed a
surgery, I was like, this is alot of math and science, and I
love horses.
I don't think I want, I I don'tI don't know about this.
Yeah, like maybe I'll play oneon like play a vet or something.
So I decided to look up umfaith-based schools that had
(03:11):
theater programs.
And because I really wanted tobe in a community that
understood kind of the core ofwho, well, really the core of
who I was, and then also couldteach me in excellence like my
craft.
So I ended up moving to SouthernCalifornia.
My parents were sad about that.
Moving to Southern California, Iwent to a school called Vanguard
(03:32):
University.
After that, I kind of realized Iwas like, I don't think I'm
gonna necessarily get hired juston my little theater degree.
So if I can't act, then maybeI'd love to teach at the
collegiate level.
That means getting my master's.
So I auditioned, auditioned atall these places and wound up at
UCLA.
And there I got my master's inacting, a group of 12 um people.
(03:55):
And I met my mentor there,Gordon Hunt, who's Helen Hunt's
dad.
He was my audition teacher.
And quickly out of school, um,he really believed in me,
connected me with a manager, andI started working pretty
immediately after I got out ofuh UCLA.
And I worked on a video gamethat ended up lasting 10 years,
(04:15):
where I got to play kind of thefemale heroine sidekick.
Amazing.
Yeah, for PlayStation, which wasa gift, like the technology was
just developing.
So here I thought it was voiceacting, but it was a lot of
motion capture, and got to workwith people like Simon Baker,
got to ride a motorcycle withhim, got to uh be on ER for a
(04:37):
full season, brothers andsisters for a full season, just
some really incredible projects.
And all the while just reallyaware and grateful that you
don't just land there andthere's a reason you've been
sent there, and just reallytrying to tune in to the people
who are around me and just kindof be like, okay, I'm here for a
(04:58):
character, but why else am Ihere in this school?
So um, yeah, that was kind of myjourney into working and acting,
doing something I never thoughtI would be able to do, and doing
it in a way that's a little bitunconventional.
Like the way you think youshould get a job in acting world
is the way it never works, butthe way it worked out for me, I
(05:20):
like went to school, went tocollege, went and got my
master's degree and startedworking.
So I was really, really, reallyfortunate.
SPEAKER_01 (05:27):
Yeah, it's not like the the typical actress story,
right?
Of just moving to Hollywood,living in a van or something
crazy like that, and then justadditioning like crazy, like you
went to school for it.
And on top of that, youvolunteer are interned, right?
And we're shadowing and serving.
So for me, when I was just umlooking in into more of your
(05:48):
story, the thing that I admiredabout you is like your
willingness to serve.
And I think that's that'ssomething that's becoming less
frequent in our day and age nowbecause it's you know, serving,
it's like, no, I should be ontop.
I should, there's a sense ofentitlement.
I think that's a little morecommon now than it used to be,
(06:09):
and just from my perspective.
Um, and looking at your storyand seeing like you've done that
so often and for so many yearsthat it's what position do you
and offer you the opportunitiesthat you have?
So, how would you encouragesomeone who's maybe like, I
really want to be here, and howdo I get there?
Like, how did you positionposition yourself or what was
(06:30):
the posture like coming intothat?
Like just that your mindset?
SPEAKER_02 (06:34):
That's an incredible question.
And um yeah, I'm really, I don'tknow.
I'm like, wow, I guess I did dothat again.
I did.
But um, I think you know,there's a big emphasis when
you're in LA, specifically umHollywood, about like they're
all like networking.
You need to network, network.
And everybody's kind of like,what does that even mean?
(06:56):
And I and I mean that's not justin the industry, I'm sure it's
all around.
You kind of come to realize likewhat that really means is you
know, fostering relationships.
However, I just felt like when Iwas like, for example, when I
was in graduate school and I hadthis incredible teacher in
Gordon Hunt, I just realized Iwas like, I want to learn from
(07:18):
him.
And so he's he's has anincredible track record.
He's an incredible human being,he's trustworthy.
Any opportunity I can to learnfrom him and also help him, like
to me, seems like a win-win likesituation.
I didn't feel like I was goingto get anything out of it.
(07:38):
Honestly, the only thing Ithought I would get out of it is
just some wisdom from someoneolder than me that that I wanted
to learn from.
And I saw in his life, you know,like he would be like, Can you
get me a website for my actingclass or whatever?
Like, I actually know how to dothat.
I'd be more than happy to.
(07:59):
Or he'd be like, Emily, I need aI need a stage manager for this
thing at the taper.
And I'm like, great, I'll bethere.
You know, at that time I had theability to do that.
Um, but I felt like I did thatin my with my classmates too.
Like I was taking headshots ofeverybody, and I think I just
had this like, I want to learnall facets of it.
(08:20):
And I also feel like honestly, Iwas thinking about this actually
this morning, that I came from ahouse that was really
servant-oriented.
If somebody was stopped, wewould never do this anymore, but
if somebody was stopped on theside of the road, my dad would
always stop to help them.
You know, if there was a kid whowas in a rough family situation,
my parents were always there toprovide, like, coming over, come
(08:42):
over and have lunch with us.
Our home was open to that.
Like, I feel like they reallycreated in us this like you
know, be a servant of all kindof a situation.
So I don't know, maybe there wassomething there to that, but I
think that just kind of wasnaturally in my system.
SPEAKER_01 (09:01):
Yeah.
At what point um in yourchildhood, or at what point did
you really realize this is whatyou want to do is take the
acting route and go intoHollywood?
SPEAKER_02 (09:11):
Well, my mom had a really my mom was really great
in that I really loved horses.
That was the thing I was gonnabe doing.
And I was so blessed by somegreat friends who really helped
me do that for a long time.
But she also saw in me thistalent, I guess, for um
performance.
And so she got all of us intothis acting school in in
(09:35):
Bellevue, Washington at thetime.
And they were the only schoolthat was teaching like on-camera
acting.
So she, in order to help pay forour lessons, she was like, Well,
my oldest can probably likeassistant teach or help out.
So that was another situationwhere I was there working and
learning from all of theseincredible teachers, and then I
(09:56):
was learning and then teachinglike the four-year-olds.
So I think it was through highschool that when I started
getting some awards and Istarted getting some like kind
of it really clicking that Iknew I liked it, but I don't
think I ever thought I would getto do it, to be honest with you.
So I think it was probably inthe made it was kind of a
(10:19):
gradual thing.
And I think I was on a comedytroupe in in college where four
of us girls were in a minivanand our school sent us out to
work at summer camps and doimprov comedy as well as be like
camp counselors.
And when I was there one summer,I felt a very strong um, I was
(10:40):
journaling and doing a lot ofpraying, and I just felt like my
hand take off.
And I just had this dream tomentor the next generation um in
how to do act, how to kind of umhow do church and faith, how
does that cross over with thearts?
(11:01):
I think there's a big gap there,like each one kind of doesn't
know what to do with the other.
And so I found myself in themiddle going, Well, I feel like
I've been called and created todo this.
So how do I reconcile that?
And it was never a problem in myhouse, but I saw it in the world
kind of like the this umdisconnect.
(11:23):
So I think it was that summerthat I felt like, oh, this might
be what I've been made to do.
SPEAKER_01 (11:30):
That's so beautiful.
It's interesting that you saythat you never saw yourself, you
know, having the opportunitiesthat you have, right?
Which is but like looking backnow, was there evidence or like
if you're to just look yeah,exactly.
SPEAKER_02 (11:47):
I mean, of course.
I mean, I think in all, youknow, like I was like Dorothy
and Wizard of Oz as a littlegirl or things like that, but I
don't think the television partof it or the film part of it, I
think just growing up inWashington, that just seems so
far away.
SPEAKER_03 (12:06):
It's like, how do you do that?
SPEAKER_02 (12:08):
And what does that even mean?
So I but I do think in highschool, like when I was working
at that acting school, there wasa lot of interest for me from
like some LA agents, and I had awoman there that kind of took me
down to LA, and I think that waslike the first time where I was
I don't know, maybe that was alittle bit of foreshadowing.
(12:29):
Probably I don't think everybodygot taken down to LA to like
agents and stuff.
So that I think probably thatwould have been something.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (12:38):
Yeah.
And so it's interesting too,because you get to read about
the characters that you'reauditioning for and hoping to
be, you know, play the role.
Um, I'm curious too what yourprocess is of selecting a role,
like also just gearing yourselfup for it, like the immersion of
it.
Like, what's your approach tothat as a professional?
And then then in Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (12:58):
Um, well, first of all, I'm always just grateful.
I don't really know.
I I think because now I'mobviously a mom of three kids,
and I am married, and it's avery different situation from
when I was single and couldchoose all my own stuff and
everything like that.
So I think now the job reallydepends on, you know, what it's
(13:22):
gonna cost me and my family forme to go and take it, and then
also the content of what it isand what it's putting out there.
Um, I think earlier on,obviously, you're just you're
just I mean, let's be real,you're kind of just like taking
jobs.
SPEAKER_01 (13:38):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (13:38):
Like if they come, you're just kind of looking at
them and saying, like, is isthis something?
I mean, for me with my personalfaith, it is is this something I
can stomach and do?
SPEAKER_03 (13:50):
That's the first thing.
SPEAKER_02 (13:52):
And then also just like, yeah, is this is this
worth doing?
Is it quality content?
Is it written well?
Um, all of that.
Um and then preparing for it'sreally fun.
It's a lot of like for me,finding like what the character
is gonna wear is really helpfulfor me, or what the props that
(14:12):
they would have.
Because to me, it really helpscreate how that character is.
Like when I was playing gettingready to play Audrey, this cop
on Haven, I I did a ride alongwith a cop in Pasadena who's a
short blonde girl, and Ithought, great, because I have a
really hard time believingmyself as a cop.
(14:33):
And so that's something Inoticed of her is she had this
bulletproof vest on, and shealways just like hung on to it,
like it was her overalls, andlike she could see everybody and
she could talk to her walkie andeverything like that.
But there's just like when youlike hook your hands into
something, there's just thiswith like confidence and it just
changes the way you are versushow I am.
(14:53):
So I think for me, a lot of isit is the external and
interviewing people and findingpeople.
And then recently it's been moreabout finding that personal
connection that makes it reallyraw and real and connected for
me.
Like, who is this person to me?
What is that other person inthis scene to me?
(15:16):
And that when I can find thathook, I think that real is
really helpful.
SPEAKER_01 (15:21):
That's so interesting.
It's um just reminding me, Ijust uh recently read uh Green
Lights by Matthew McConaughey.
And crazy book, crazy memoir.
Um, but what he he wrote thesame thing, you know, initially
at the beginning, as an actor,you had to take whatever you can
get paid for, you know, pay yourbills, whatever.
And also he was single at thatpoint, too.
(15:42):
Um and then he came to a pointin his life that he was like
realizing that A, he some of theroles he was playing was wasn't
what he wanted to be or do.
He went through this wholetransformational period and then
um again like took on excitingroles, but realized that the
characters he was playing wasmore interesting than his life.
(16:03):
So do you ever relate?
Do you ever feel like oh, likeespecially knowing story, right?
Being in the field that you'rein, you understand the story
arc, you you're really submergedinto that.
How do you parallel that withyour own story?
I'm curious.
SPEAKER_02 (16:18):
Yeah, well, I think for me, the hardest part is
finding that personal peace.
Like for Audrey on Haven for areally long time.
I mean, I played sevencharacters on that show, and one
of them was a really evil, evilvillain.
And there was a lot I couldn'tidentify with, you know.
But there was because I feellike I'm just like dee dee dee.
(16:40):
Like a knife, like, but but sheI I think honestly, there's
there is this like well, what isenjoyable about this?
And what would be tempting aboutthis, and what would be fun, and
kind of sinking into that, youknow.
Um it's interesting in thismovie, like for me with that
(17:04):
character, she is battling umrheumatoid arthritis and an
injury from very long ago.
And so something for me that Ihaven't experienced or had to
necessarily deal with is thislike prolonged pain, you know,
and kind of just being in thatposition and what that kind of
does to your spirit and yourbody.
(17:26):
But for me, it was just kind ofabout trying to immerse myself
in that.
There were other things I couldvery much connect to with that
character.
Um but when that part, that wasreally hard.
And I was afraid that I wasgonna forget it during the
course of the movie, like forgetthings like how her hands are or
(17:47):
how she holds her hips or any ofthat.
So I just tried to stay in thatas much as possible, which is
probably the most I've ever donefor a role, like to stay in
something.
I'm not usually kind of methodlike that, but for the
physicality part of this one, Ithink I had to be.
SPEAKER_01 (18:02):
Yeah, because you had to use a cane walking too,
so it was a little bit like bentover and all of that.
SPEAKER_02 (18:07):
Yeah, that's um I was so sore after shooting that
movie.
I had to go to our friend who'sa chiropractor, and I was like,
I need you to work on me becausemy body hurts so bad, and I
can't believe it like that.
It would just be from doingthat, but yeah, it definitely
was, and I was uh I was kind ofshocked by that.
SPEAKER_01 (18:27):
Yeah, um, who has been your favorite character
that you've ever played?
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SPEAKER_02 (19:13):
I don't know.
I mean, I I loved playing Audreybecause I got to be six
different, seven differentpeople, and that was really fun
to do on one show.
But like I was just I lovedbeing on ER because that was
like all the doctor stuff, andshe was very much like kind of
oblivious and and just a quirkycharacter.
And then I did just watch ascene recently for something
(19:36):
else I was doing where I was onNCIS for one little episode, and
uh like I'm like smacking bugs,and then I'm totally dirty and
itchy, and like that's just fun.
But I think one project I'llalways, always remember was my
first big part, and that wasplaying on John from Cincinnati
(19:56):
with on HBO across from peoplelike Luke Perry and um Rebecca
De Mornay and Bruce Greenwoodand working with all these
incredible, incredible people.
Working with David Milch as awriter is something like you
just you just don't get that.
Like, and for that to be like myfirst really long-term job was
(20:18):
an honor.
And so I think that if I couldever go back to a show, I I
always think about filming inSan Diego on an HBO show with
David Milch was kind of thecream of the crop at the time.
SPEAKER_01 (20:32):
Definitely.
Yeah, it's beautiful.
So I heard you call your work asa mission field.
How do you bring faith into theindustry that you're in and the
environment into Hollywood?
SPEAKER_02 (20:43):
Yeah, it's really hard.
And I feel like for the longesttime, it's been something that
you kind of just like keep underthe radar, if I'm being honest.
Like you kind of feel like youhave to live it out more than
you're able to say it.
However, I think something I'vebeen learning in my faith is
(21:05):
that these relationships withpeople, they're gonna last
beyond the show.
And so you're making these likepeople will ask you questions
like, What did you do thisweekend?
Well, if I'm filming on locationin Nova Scotia and I don't have
a church, but I find a churchand I'm going there on Sundays
to make sure that I'm keepingthat in my rhythm, like they're
(21:25):
super surprised.
Like, wait, you went what youwent to a church?
Like, which church do you go to?
You know, things like that.
SPEAKER_01 (21:31):
And like why?
SPEAKER_02 (21:32):
Yeah.
Or if I'm just like, hey, I'llbe praying for you about that.
Like, that's like I really willbe praying for you about that,
or to hear things work out andto be like, oh my goodness, like
I was praying for you aboutthat.
That's incredible, you know.
Um, and then just having somelike deep conversations with
people that you become closewith, you know, about what's
(21:54):
going on in their life and maybewhy you're not making the
decisions you do, why you're notstaying out as late as
everybody, why you're nothanging out.
Like, just there's verydifferent choices that you end
up making that I think peoplereally notice, or I've noticed
people will be like, Don't don'ttalk like that around her.
Like, don't talk like I mean,what do you think I am?
(22:14):
Like, I'm not it wasn't moreyesterday.
Like, come on.
But I think people do notice.
I think as I've gotten older andI've moved and I live now in a
different part of the country,I've become a lot bolder with
what I believe because honestly,you know, my I think I think
personally early on, it was moreof a fear of you won't get hired
(22:38):
if people find this out aboutyou.
Like you won't get hired.
But I think recently there'sjust been this growing boldness.
And as I get older, I'm justlike, this is this is who I am.
Like, and there it should Ishouldn't be I shouldn't want to
cover it up at all, you know?
People who believe exactly whatI believe are still doing
(23:00):
incredible jobs in workingplaces, and it doesn't it should
not take precedent over myrelationship with the Lord.
So I've always envisioned itlike whenever I get sent to a
project, like that missionaryboard at a church in the hallway
where it's like we have peoplehere, we have people here, we
have people here, that wheneverI go on location, I'm like,
okay, yes, this is about theproject, but who do you have me
(23:23):
here for?
Help me have eyes to be open andnot so wrapped up in my
exhaustion and my lines and allthe little things I have to do
that I'm not seeing the personthat is right in front of me.
Because to me, what we get to dois just the anchor for the
conversations, like ineverybody's line of work.
(23:46):
It's just the framework, it'sjust the hanger by which we get
to exist with people, you know?
It's like I could go and, youknow, when I'm teaching, or I
could go and work at a cafe orsomething, and I would still be
there for the people.
I think that's what Jesus wasabout was the people.
So I just don't want to get toowrapped up in the job, too angry
(24:11):
about the job, to well, theyshould have been doing this, or
this wasn't, or the productiondidn't like that.
I am not going, wait, why am Ireally here?
How am I here?
SPEAKER_01 (24:21):
Like, let's keep that.
SPEAKER_02 (24:23):
Like, you know.
SPEAKER_01 (24:24):
Yeah, that's so beautiful.
I think the greatest gift thatwe can give humanity is seeing
people for who they are, right?
Accepting people and lovingthem, where they are, for who
they are.
And uh one of my favorite quotesis by Maya Angela, who said
something along the lines of um,your legacy is every life you
(24:45):
touch.
So it's not necessarily about,you know, doing that one big
thing or this big calling orthis big whatever, right?
It's it's the interactions wehave every day with people.
Yeah.
If we can be the light andradiate God's love to the people
we encounter on a daily basis,that's where it's at.
And I love that you're like,okay, help me not to get caught
(25:06):
up in my role in my mind,because there's someone here
that may need, you know, aconversation that may need to be
seen or may need to know thatthey're loved.
Um that's such a beautifulapproach.
SPEAKER_02 (25:18):
Yeah, well, and it's honestly, I just had to kind of
keep I've had this sort of likeepiphany lately that like if
we're going Bible, that likeAdam and Eve were in the garden
in perfect communion with theLord.
Perfect communion.
They had everything at theirfingertips.
(25:39):
They walked with him, theytalked with him, they had
everything provided for them.
And yet they were stilldeceived.
You know, and I just feel likewow, like I can think I have it
all together, or like everythingcan be lined up.
But I still in my humanness havethe ability to be deceived.
(26:00):
And so I think sometimes as likepersonally, I'll be like, oh,
well, I'm not like dealing withthat addiction, or I'm not
dealing with that, and so I'mdoing okay.
But we each have our own thingthat's gonna tempt us and pull
us away.
And so for me, I found being onset, I love it so much, it's my
(26:20):
jam.
I just feel so lit up when I'mthere.
I'm just like just all parts ofmy brain are on fire.
But I think I just have to likeI have to remind myself like to
not get caught up in thetemptation to get nitty gritty,
like offended or whatever.
Cause for me, that's where I'llstart losing my real focus or
(26:44):
why I'm there.
And so um I I do think sometimeslike that is a propensity that
we can have is be like, okay,well no, I've got this straight
now, I got this straight now,I've got this, okay.
All right, I'm I'm in my comfortzone.
But even there, like we have theability to in our humanity to to
(27:05):
make wrong choices.
So we have to stay awake and bealert and do whatever we can to
just continue putting the rightfoot right in front of the
other, you know.
SPEAKER_01 (27:14):
Yeah, absolutely.
Is there anything else thatlights your heart on fire
besides like being in the role,acting?
SPEAKER_02 (27:21):
I mean, my kiddos for sure.
My family, watching them likethrive is huge for me.
I really love like I I haven'tyet been able to do it, but I
just love creating.
Like I love, I'm hoping for theability to produce something or
to create something or to directsomething someday because I feel
like I can see it and I don'tthink everybody sees it.
(27:45):
And so it's like, well, why haveI been given this ability to see
it?
I hope I get to do that at somepoint, yeah.
But right now it's just been funto, you know, because life ebbs
and flows, and there'sdefinitely there's been seasons
recently for me of just drought.
And so to be able to come intothese projects and and be
(28:05):
reminded that this is a piece ofmy heart and what I've been
created to do, and then to getto like work on this project
where both of those things to meare coming together, and to be
able to do it, you know,hopefully with excellence, and
then to watch the whole rest ofthe team do it really well was
just is very exciting.
So I love creating with people.
SPEAKER_01 (28:27):
That's awesome.
Yeah, I love collabs too.
Um, with you mentioned likegoing through a season of
drought.
So, how do you stay encouragedin the middle of not getting
calls back, rejection,criticism?
You know, how do you sustainyour confidence and continue to
persevere through the ups anddowns of the I mean, I'll be
(28:47):
honest, I don't think I'm goodat that.
SPEAKER_02 (28:49):
I don't think great up with you.
I I have just had to go througha lot of like soul searching and
prayer because for us, we livedin LA for 15, 20 years and then
moved to Atlanta probably aboutfour or five years ago for our
kiddos.
And, you know, thinking thatthere would probably be more
(29:10):
here for me than there has been.
And so it's starting to likepick up now, which is very
exciting.
But um, in the interim, I thinkit's just like it was a big
weight of like, am I gonna lookback at my life, just constantly
look back at what I had?
Or am I gonna accept, like, hey,this is where I am now?
(29:31):
What are you calling what ismine to do today?
What am I supposed to do today?
And just continually asking,just in prayer.
I mean, honestly, that's all Ican do is just pray and just be
like, Do you want me to keepdoing this?
Like, is this what you have forme?
Is this my thing?
Is this your thing?
If it's your thing, let me knowsomehow.
And every once in a while, thensomething would pop up and I'd
(29:54):
be like, Okay, you know?
But just sort of accepting thatall of these seasons, like, I
think it I think out of school,when you start working and
you're working, working,working, you're working, you
hear of like actresses having ashelf life or whatever, and
you're like, nah, that's notgonna happen.
SPEAKER_01 (30:09):
Yeah, not to me.
SPEAKER_02 (30:11):
Not to me.
And then you're like, oh mygosh, it's happening to me.
And you just have to kind of forme, it's been about creating
other things, working on otherthings, and then also just
having some like real hardconversations and praying and
just being like, is this what Ineed to keep putting my energy
into?
Um, and I haven't gotten the noyet.
(30:32):
So I think it's just kind ofabout hanging on because every
person that I think who's doingit has just kept hanging on.
Um but in my life it's had to bewith like, you know, I think
with the with obviously withlike the Lord's blessing of
like, yeah, keep them.
SPEAKER_01 (30:52):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (30:53):
It's not easy though, I'll tell you.
SPEAKER_01 (30:55):
I believe you.
I believe you.
I know I know a little bit aboutrejections from publishers and
stuff, but yeah, I have a littletaste, you know.
But um one of the things I wasgonna ask you is uh what is a
legacy that you hope to leave?
Like if you were to imagine yourown eulogy, which I know it
sounds dark, but I have minewritten and I've talked to like
(31:15):
I just uh hosted my siblingmastermind.
We all wrote a eulogy and thenthey volunteered to read them.
It was the most beautiful thingthat uh has ever happened um
with my siblings.
Wow.
And um, so it's a powerfulthing, and I'm curious to know
like what would be your greatestdesire or ambition as a legacy
(31:41):
that you leave, Emily.
Hey, if this episode is speakingto you, can you do me a quick
favor and share it with a friendwho you think will also be
encouraged by it?
Because when you share or leavea review or subscribe, it really
helps us to reach moreincredible human beings like
you.
Thank you so much for being partof this journey.
SPEAKER_02 (32:00):
Man, that's a really that's a good question that I
want to keep thinking aboutactually, and I'm gonna I'm
going to keep thinking about it.
I think for me something thatI'm always impressed by when I
do go to funerals is thefunerals where people actually
(32:21):
are standing up and they'relike, like they had an impact on
my life.
Like they, like what you said,like they saw me, like they saw
where I was at.
And I think for me, I reallyhope that you know, beyond
whatever she did to this thisrole, whatever, like I'm very
aware that's all just gonna likego away.
(32:43):
Like it's really not anythingthat I think is super duper
meaningful at the end of yourlife.
Like at the end of your life, Ithink you just hope that all of
your children are around you andthat you people can say of you
that at least for me that I knowshe loved the Lord because she
always brought that into theconversation and that she loved
(33:08):
to worship because I loveworship and that she loved
people well around her, that shereally did try to love people
well.
And granted, I can be so ADD andall over the place like
legitimately.
So I I struggle with that andbeing going, like, man, am I out
(33:29):
of sight, out of mind?
Like, I need to check in on thisperson.
Because I'm not great at thatwith people that I think will
probably just always be around,which I know is not the case.
But I think that is as you'reasking that, that's what I would
hope.
I'd hope that each of my familymembers would feel that they
were loved well by me and thatthat I like just loved loved
(33:50):
people and loved loved to makethings.
SPEAKER_01 (33:53):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (33:55):
And make things and play with people.
That's what I really hope.
But it's a good question.
I'm glad you brought it upbecause you know, I do the I did
these things called um thepurpose-driven life.
And it's kind of that thought oflike at the end, like at the
end, you know, being intentionalwith your days because you're
(34:15):
building something to where youare at the end.
SPEAKER_01 (34:18):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (34:18):
What what does the interim look like on a daily
basis?
Because we can get so caught upin all these other things that
just really aren't gonna matter.
What's it gonna what is it gonnabe like at the end, you know?
SPEAKER_01 (34:32):
Yeah, yeah.
Which is why I think like theeulogy exercise is so powerful.
I've adopted it from BrittanyTurner.
I don't know if you know of heror not, but um she does a lot of
humanitarian work with umrescuing victims, uh uh
restoring veterans into um justthe people who are down and out,
and then um giving them apurpose, and now they go out and
(34:55):
rescue, they get trained in herisland in the British Islands um
through her retreat, and it's areally beautiful thing.
But that's something like herteacher had her do when she was
18 and it changed her life.
And like, imagine at 18 you'rewriting eulogy, it sounds really
weird.
And so, um, and it's funnybecause I've interviewed other
people and they're like, Yeah, Ihave my eulogy written.
(35:16):
Um, and I was like, Me too.
Are we weird?
SPEAKER_02 (35:19):
Yeah, no, it's great.
SPEAKER_01 (35:21):
But I think you know, it helps you to have like
knowing what your legacy isgonna be, what you're looking
for, so it helps you to say noto you know to the other things.
But I think only what'sbeautiful about your story too
is that um you said like theaccolades and all those things
don't matter at the end of theday, which is true to some
degree, right?
But I think they help youposition for influence and
(35:42):
impact.
SPEAKER_02 (35:42):
That's true, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (35:43):
You know, because then you're able to collaborate,
you're able to use that to dogreater things, work and greater
collaborations have um an impactthat's powerful.
So you said you do someteaching.
Tell me a little bit about that.
SPEAKER_02 (35:57):
Yeah, I've always found that in the in-betweens is
what I call it, in thein-betweens, that a between jobs
and work, that teaching for mehas been a really great way to
feel like uh like I'm using whatI've been taught and giving
back.
So I'm currently teaching at aat a Christian private school in
(36:19):
our area, and I'm teachingacting for film and TV.
And it's just funny becausethese high schoolers, in some
ways, I'm like, y'all don't evenknow.
Like, like this is this is solike this is so great.
And I have to remember thatthey're just taking it as like a
high school class, like versuslike signing up for like a film
and TV.
SPEAKER_01 (36:39):
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (36:41):
But it's really neat because there I do get to
challenge them in those morepurpose-filled ways, you know,
like, hey, you you're young, yougo out there, you're auditioning
for stuff.
Do you take everything thatcomes to you?
Are you allowed to say no?
Yes, you're allowed to say no.
You are building what you wantto be doing and what you want to
(37:02):
continue to be called back for.
You are building that.
And when you're there, what elsedo you have?
Like if you're there being anextra or you're there and you're
getting treated horribly.
Like, what do you need to whathow how can you stay focused and
how can you give back and serveto people?
So for me, uh what I teach inthat class is not only the
(37:22):
skills, because honestly, Ithink film, it's like they may
or may not go on to auditioning,but they're gonna probably do a
lot of Zoom interviews and Zoommeetings and being present and
knowing about lighting andknowing about framing and all
that stuff is helpful for themin the real world.
But ultimately, too, I tellthem, you know, whatever you go
on to do, like we act, Iactually have them write not a
(37:43):
eulogy, but like a missionstatement, like for my craft or
for my jobs, what do I want tobe about?
Because it will help you likemake your decisions so that if
you see a paycheck or if you seethis star or if you see this,
you know, these benefits orwhatever, you'll be able to
hunker down and be like, okay,before that was even anything,
this is what I want to be about.
(38:04):
And if it doesn't line up withthat, like it, then you have,
you know, you have your answer.
So I love teaching and I'vegotten to teach at UCLA, um,
teach some really amazingstudents there.
And there I kind of taught justlike the real world, like we're
not just in class doing stufflike we took it out of the
classroom.
(38:25):
So they're doing filming withlike airplanes and people
walking by and all those things,so that they can really get
their legs under them for theamount of distractions that you
have to sort of clear out whileyou're actually filming
something.
Um, but then also in my classeswith like high schoolers or
whatnot, I'm just kind of tryingto integrate both their purpose
(38:46):
and what they believe they'vebeen made to do or help to find
that as well as what with whatwe're learning.
SPEAKER_01 (38:54):
Yeah.
If you were to go back to theyounger version of Emily, what
advice would you have for her?
SPEAKER_02 (39:01):
Oh man.
I think I just would I think Iwould want to say like it's
gonna be okay.
Like, because I was prettyearnest.
I mean, I had a lot of fun, butI was pretty earnest and like I,
you know, pretty serioussometimes about stuff.
So just kind of, you know, Ithink I was always, you know,
(39:22):
wondering or worried as like youknow, what what's gonna happen
or is something gonna go wrong?
And just being able to say,like, hey, it's gonna like
there's gonna be some reallydifficult times, but ultimately,
like, you're okay, like you'reabout the right things, and just
keep keep going, like no need tofreak out.
SPEAKER_01 (39:44):
Yeah, that's beautiful.
How do you think like motherhoodhas changed you in general?
I mean, I know you said that nowwith having kids, you have to,
you know, be aware of the rolesyou take and the timing and all
of that, the is essentially howit's gonna be taxing on your
family, right?
Yeah, but how has it changed youin general?
SPEAKER_02 (40:05):
I think, well, it was really cool because I
actually had my oldest son Mileswhen I was on Haven.
So I came back to work when Iwas six, he was six weeks old.
He was six weeks old.
I didn't know anything.
I was like the first time mom,and I'm just like mobying him,
and I'm like walking the set andlike handing them off to my
(40:25):
husband.
He's going to the trailer, I'mnursing and like hair and
makeup, and we're just doing it.
So I think what was great aboutthat was like I didn't, I was
surprised pregnant.
I didn't know that I waspregnant with him, and then I
was pregnant with him, and Ijust learned that like
production will deal.
Like I don't have to freak outabout them.
Like they will figure it out.
(40:46):
This happens all the time.
And I just came to the idea thatlike it's okay, like it's okay
that we have babies and do thiswork because I think there's
this feeling like, oh, I can't.
I don't know if I can have it.
No, it's okay.
Like, your life should not beput on hold.
Like they can figure it out.
And then once we all figured itout together, I was able to take
on more projects and just belike, no, it's okay.
(41:08):
This is how it's gonna work.
Like, I'll have my baby there ata lighting turnaround.
This is what like so that gaveme more confidence to just be
able like, no, it's okay.
Um, but then I think it also italso taught me not to be so
fixated and precious about onlike the work.
(41:31):
I mean, I I've had to, I look atyoung, like bright-eyed actors,
and I'm just like, you have somuch time to study this.
Like, you don't even know, youknow.
I'm like, I feel like an olddrama teacher where I'm like,
Herm, like you don't, youyoungins don't even know how
good you have it.
Like, you know, because I'mtrying to like do tapes in my
(41:52):
office, like, and I'll have likemy six-year-old pop in or
whatever.
Um, so I think it's just it'staught me not to be so precious
uh in in my head about work,like to come out of that and
just to be able to like have ahuge hug from my daughter, or
you know, go jump on thetrampoline with my son or
(42:15):
whatever.
It's just it's like life is lifeis so much bigger than this, you
know.
SPEAKER_01 (42:22):
Yeah, yeah, that's so beautiful.
What's a movie or a film thatyou have loved recently that
you're not in?
SPEAKER_02 (42:30):
Oh my god, that's a tough question.
Oh my word.
That's a you know, I find Ihonestly I have to think about
that.
I honestly have such a hard timewatching television and films
right now because I cannot watchthem without being like, wait,
(42:50):
did I work with them?
I need to where where was thisfilmed?
Who where was this filmed?
How did they get that location?
And I'm like sitting on iPhone.
SPEAKER_01 (42:57):
Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_02 (42:58):
It's like work for me.
So my my like husband is alwaysreally like he they watch so
much stuff, and I'm like, I'llsit down for a little bit and
I'll be like, Yeah, I can't doit, or I'll like I'll see how
it's edited, yeah, or whatever.
Um, but honestly, I mean I'vepopped in and out of it, but
I've really thought what theydid.
I mean, this is not a clicheresponse.
(43:20):
I really have liked what they'vedone, um, like with the chosen.
I thought I've just been superimpressed with the chosen and
how they've told those stories.
I love how they they make all ofthe disciples and everybody very
viscerally real.
SPEAKER_03 (43:38):
Like very viscerally real.
SPEAKER_02 (43:40):
I think it's totally worth people's time.
It's I think it's done so, so,so well.
You know, other than that, I'mkind of like watching Lego
Masters and and they haveSurvivor on.
I mean, it's kind of sad.
I need to, I'm like, oh, that'sa question I need to have a good
better answer for.
SPEAKER_01 (43:57):
Yeah, well, you usually ask people about books,
which I will we'll get to in asecond.
Um, with wrapping up thepodcast, I usually ask three
questions.
And one of them being is what isthe bravest thing that Emily has
done?
SPEAKER_02 (44:10):
Oh my gosh.
Okay, so for me, the bravestthing I've done, and I like I
know this is it because I couldfeel like my heart come out of
my chest when you said thatquestion.
So I was working on and stillI'm hoping to get made a um show
about the female pilots of WorldWar II.
And so we went to Sweetwater,Texas, and we were there at one
(44:33):
of the WASPs homecoming, whichis where all the families come
and we celebrate these women,and they have all of these
historical airplanes out on theairfield.
And so um I and I cannot believeI cannot remember which plane it
is off the top of my head rightnow.
But um I got to go up in in aWorld War II airplane, and it
(44:59):
was just the front and me in theback.
And it's like a vintage plane,and it's like a clear, you know,
um cockpit.
SPEAKER_01 (45:08):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (45:09):
All of the old, like all of the old like controls and
everything.
And I was like, I have children,I have children.
What am I doing?
I have children, I havechildren.
Um, I think it was a Mustang,actually, that we went up in.
And so, or no, it wasn't.
It wasn't a Mustang.
SPEAKER_01 (45:27):
And you probably hear like it rattling, right?
SPEAKER_02 (45:29):
Like the engine, everything sounds like it's like
shaking and right.
And you're like, This is an oldplane.
I'm going up in the air in anold plane.
We also got to go up in theplane that dropped um the first
parachuters out in Normandy, andwhich was huge and massive.
So I think going up in thoseplanes to me, especially the
(45:51):
smaller one, was probably one ofthe bravest things I've done.
And I I second and the mostexhilarating brave thing I feel
like I've done was when I was ona media tour for Uncharted, I
was visiting Petra in Jordan,and we were up on these cliffs,
and one of the horseback ridingleader guys was like, Come here,
(46:14):
and I was like, and I got up onthe back, bareback with him, and
he took off galloping across thetop of like these peaks in
Petra.
And I was like, I could die.
I could die right now.
I'm in where am I?
I could die.
But it was oh my goodness.
I'm very glad I did it.
SPEAKER_01 (46:33):
There you go.
Yeah.
Love that.
What are some pivotal books thatyou read in in at any point that
just were transformative foryou?
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SPEAKER_02 (47:21):
I think one of the most recent ones I've read that
has been transformative for meis one of it's called
Unoffendable.
SPEAKER_01 (47:31):
I heard of that one.
SPEAKER_02 (47:32):
Yeah.
And it was, I mean, it's intensebecause he, I mean, it's
hilarious.
He's very he's a very good,like, funny writer.
Um and it was all about just howeasily in our culture we are
just on, like we are justoffended about so many things.
SPEAKER_03 (47:54):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (47:55):
So it was a real challenge.
Like it was a challenge atlistening to it as a reader,
because you just find yourselfgoing, yeah, but if this person,
oh yeah, but if this, you know,and it was just that challenge
of like, hey, what if we liveour lives like completely
unoffendable?
Like there's nothing you can dobecause we are just going to
respond in love and it'sultimately gonna be okay.
(48:16):
Like that's what we've beenasked to do.
And I just I was pretty rockedby it.
I d you know, I definitely thinkthere's things that I'm like
still thinking about, but themessage of it was really good,
and I think it's one that neededto be heard.
And I think the other one that Ithought was fascinating and
(48:39):
hilarious was this one's crazy.
It's called How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever (48:44):
undefined
Told by Harris and Scott Key.
SPEAKER_01 (48:51):
Oh, I read that and he was on the podcast.
Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_02 (48:55):
My word.
Oh my gosh.
That book I could not put thatbook down.
That was incredible.
And then there's another reallygood one called What My Bones
Know.
Um, and it's dealing withtrauma.
Um, and that was reallyinteresting to hear her
perspective.
(49:15):
She was like an NPR kind ofinterview, interview person who
ended up going to a lot oftherapy, and the way the
therapist dealt with her andhelped her with her trauma was
totally crazy, like over GoogleDocs is how they did it.
And her story is superinteresting.
So yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (49:33):
And is that like a memoir?
Is it nonfiction or is it afiction is a novel?
SPEAKER_02 (49:37):
It's a it's a novel, it's called What My Bones Know,
and it's I think probably kindof in the memoir sort of
self-helpish kind of sphere.
SPEAKER_01 (49:49):
Yeah.
Yeah.
And then the last question iswhat is the best advice that
someone gave you?
SPEAKER_02 (49:58):
I mean, this is silly.
This is really silly.
SPEAKER_01 (50:01):
Hey, we'll take it.
SPEAKER_02 (50:02):
I don't think it's like the best advice ever.
I just think it's really silly.
But I think it speaks togratitude.
It's silly.
I don't know why it popped intomy head.
But when I was on Haven, I wasworking with Jason Priestley,
and he is such a sweet, amazingguy.
And he just kept saying to me,Emily, like, because we were
(50:23):
talking about the show and if itwas gonna end and if people
would renew contracts and allthis stuff.
And he's like, Emily, once youget on a pony, you just ride
that pony.
You don't try to get off thatpony, you just ride that pony.
And I was like looking at him,and I'm like looking at Jason
Priestley.
I'm like, but you're just like,you wouldn't, and he's like, No,
you've got to be, he's likepretty much saying, be as
(50:46):
grateful as you can for work.
Like, who are you to like not?
He wasn't saying this to me, buthe was like, Who are people to
just like decide they want tojump ship?
Like, I don't, he's like, Idon't think that's a smart way
to go.
He's like, once you're on thatpony, just ride that pony.
And I feel that now, I think atmy age, with seeing people and
(51:07):
kind of, you know, other friendskind of getting like a little
nitpicky or snobby about likethe work that they do.
I just want to be like, y'all,you're working.
Like, let's be thankful for whatwe have.
Like, and that's not to say thatyou can't aspire for more or
that people should treat youbetter than maybe they're
treating you, but I thinkthere's an element of gratitude
(51:30):
that people just abandon.
And I just think you've gotta besuper thankful for super
thankful for you know um forwhat you have.
And then I think one other piecewas from our pastor recently.
He just said in some of like thehardest times that we've been
(51:52):
going through, he justcontinually says, like, you you
just have to get on your faceand pray.
Like, just keep praying everysingle day.
Just keep praying, praying,praying.
Like, do not give up, just keepgoing, just keep doing that.
And that has been advice I'vedefinitely lived by recently.
SPEAKER_01 (52:11):
Beautiful.
Is there anything else, Emily,you'd love to leave the listener
with before we wrap up?
SPEAKER_02 (52:17):
Um I think if you if you can, and I mean I should
say, like, if you can and youwant to, I would encourage you
to go see an early Christmasmovie.
Yes.
November 7th.
I've watched it.
It's actually really cute.
And so it's something you cantake your whole family to, and
you will laugh.
(52:37):
And there's actually some reallygreat cast members in it.
And um, we're just really hopingthat people show out um that
first weekend, obviously.
And for me, personally, it's thefirst time I've ever led
anything that will be intheaters.
So for me, I'm just hoping thatpeople will show up and that
they'll enjoy it and tell theirfriends and family to come back
(53:00):
and get started on thatChristmas train early in
November.
SPEAKER_01 (53:03):
So love that.
Well, thank you so, so much foryour time.
It's been an honor.
SPEAKER_02 (53:08):
Um seriously.
Thank you so much.
Such a pleasure to sit with you.
SPEAKER_01 (53:13):
Thank you for listening to the Once Appear
podcast.
It is an honor to share theseencouraging stories with you.
If you enjoy the show, I wouldlove for you to tell your
friends, leave us a reviewerrating, and subscribe to
wherever you listen to thepodcast because this helps
others discover the show.
You can find me on my website,FetCub.
Hey friends, welcome to the Once Who Dared podcast,
where stories of courage areelevated.
I'm your host, Becca, and everyother week you'll hear
interviews from inspiringpeople.
My hope is that you will leaveencouraged.
I'm so glad you're here.
SPEAKER_01 (00:24):
Welcome to the OneSpare podcast.
I'm your host Becca.
And on today's episode, we'rejoined by actress Emily Rhodes,
noted for her standout role asAuditor Parker and Aiden.
She also starred in ER as wellas many other films, including
her latest Christmas moviecalled All Is Merry and Bright.
She's also the voice and motioncapture artist for Elena Fisher
(00:45):
in the popular Uncharted VideoGame Series.
But beyond acting, Emily hasalso ventured into directing,
voice acting, and producing,truly establishing herself as a
versatile force in the industry.
Today we're diving into her pathto Hollywood, the roles that
have defined her career, herpassion project, and how she's
navigating being a wife and amother of three.
(01:07):
Emily approaches everything witha spirit of excellence and
humility, and I really enjoyedour conversation, and so will
you.
Let's jump in.
Emily Rose, welcome to the Oncea Dare podcast.
I cannot believe that you saidyes and you're on here, and it's
such a privilege to um be ableto get to know your story and
interview you.
And so thank you so much forcoming on.
Thank you for my pleasure.
SPEAKER_02 (01:28):
Thank you so much.
I'm glad to be here.
You have some incredible storieson your podcast.
So I'm honored to be asked.
Thank you.
SPEAKER_01 (01:35):
Aw, well, thank you so much.
Um, you are an actress and youhave quite the journey of
getting there and being featuredin so many different films, with
the newest one being All Is Maryand Bright, which I had the
privilege of seeing.
What a beautiful lesson.
It was, I was like tearing up inthat movie.
I'm like, this is such apowerful message of just getting
(01:59):
caught up in the wrong stuff,really striving and doing it all
right.
A lot as a lot of women do, wetry to carry so much, and it's
not all of ours to carry.
So I just, yeah, I appreciateyou and um you just coming on
here.
And um, I'd love to hear moreabout your story though, of how
(02:21):
you became an actress and likewho's Emily Rose besides, you
know, all the all the accoladesand Wikipedia and all that
stuff.
SPEAKER_02 (02:28):
Yeah, no, I'm just a girl from the Northwest.
I was born and raised about 30minutes south of Seattle, and I
had the privilege of growing upin some pretty small tiny
schools.
Um, my parents were pretty muchwhen it came time for college,
were like, well, what do youwant to study?
And I thought I was gonna be ahorse vet because I loved
(02:50):
horses.
Um, but then I realized when Iwent and sh um shadowed a
surgery, I was like, this is alot of math and science, and I
love horses.
I don't think I want, I I don'tI don't know about this.
Yeah, like maybe I'll play oneon like play a vet or something.
So I decided to look up umfaith-based schools that had
(03:11):
theater programs.
And because I really wanted tobe in a community that
understood kind of the core ofwho, well, really the core of
who I was, and then also couldteach me in excellence like my
craft.
So I ended up moving to SouthernCalifornia.
My parents were sad about that.
Moving to Southern California, Iwent to a school called Vanguard
(03:32):
University.
After that, I kind of realized Iwas like, I don't think I'm
gonna necessarily get hired juston my little theater degree.
So if I can't act, then maybeI'd love to teach at the
collegiate level.
That means getting my master's.
So I auditioned, auditioned atall these places and wound up at
UCLA.
And there I got my master's inacting, a group of 12 um people.
(03:55):
And I met my mentor there,Gordon Hunt, who's Helen Hunt's
dad.
He was my audition teacher.
And quickly out of school, um,he really believed in me,
connected me with a manager, andI started working pretty
immediately after I got out ofuh UCLA.
And I worked on a video gamethat ended up lasting 10 years,
(04:15):
where I got to play kind of thefemale heroine sidekick.
Amazing.
Yeah, for PlayStation, which wasa gift, like the technology was
just developing.
So here I thought it was voiceacting, but it was a lot of
motion capture, and got to workwith people like Simon Baker,
got to ride a motorcycle withhim, got to uh be on ER for a
(04:37):
full season, brothers andsisters for a full season, just
some really incredible projects.
And all the while just reallyaware and grateful that you
don't just land there andthere's a reason you've been
sent there, and just reallytrying to tune in to the people
who are around me and just kindof be like, okay, I'm here for a
(04:58):
character, but why else am Ihere in this school?
So um, yeah, that was kind of myjourney into working and acting,
doing something I never thoughtI would be able to do, and doing
it in a way that's a little bitunconventional.
Like the way you think youshould get a job in acting world
is the way it never works, butthe way it worked out for me, I
(05:20):
like went to school, went tocollege, went and got my
master's degree and startedworking.
So I was really, really, reallyfortunate.
SPEAKER_01 (05:27):
Yeah, it's not like the the typical actress story,
right?
Of just moving to Hollywood,living in a van or something
crazy like that, and then justadditioning like crazy, like you
went to school for it.
And on top of that, youvolunteer are interned, right?
And we're shadowing and serving.
So for me, when I was just umlooking in into more of your
(05:48):
story, the thing that I admiredabout you is like your
willingness to serve.
And I think that's that'ssomething that's becoming less
frequent in our day and age nowbecause it's you know, serving,
it's like, no, I should be ontop.
I should, there's a sense ofentitlement.
I think that's a little morecommon now than it used to be,
(06:09):
and just from my perspective.
Um, and looking at your storyand seeing like you've done that
so often and for so many yearsthat it's what position do you
and offer you the opportunitiesthat you have?
So, how would you encouragesomeone who's maybe like, I
really want to be here, and howdo I get there?
Like, how did you positionposition yourself or what was
(06:30):
the posture like coming intothat?
Like just that your mindset?
SPEAKER_02 (06:34):
That's an incredible question.
And um yeah, I'm really, I don'tknow.
I'm like, wow, I guess I did dothat again.
I did.
But um, I think you know,there's a big emphasis when
you're in LA, specifically umHollywood, about like they're
all like networking.
You need to network, network.
And everybody's kind of like,what does that even mean?
(06:56):
And I and I mean that's not justin the industry, I'm sure it's
all around.
You kind of come to realize likewhat that really means is you
know, fostering relationships.
However, I just felt like when Iwas like, for example, when I
was in graduate school and I hadthis incredible teacher in
Gordon Hunt, I just realized Iwas like, I want to learn from
(07:18):
him.
And so he's he's has anincredible track record.
He's an incredible human being,he's trustworthy.
Any opportunity I can to learnfrom him and also help him, like
to me, seems like a win-win likesituation.
I didn't feel like I was goingto get anything out of it.
(07:38):
Honestly, the only thing Ithought I would get out of it is
just some wisdom from someoneolder than me that that I wanted
to learn from.
And I saw in his life, you know,like he would be like, Can you
get me a website for my actingclass or whatever?
Like, I actually know how to dothat.
I'd be more than happy to.
(07:59):
Or he'd be like, Emily, I need aI need a stage manager for this
thing at the taper.
And I'm like, great, I'll bethere.
You know, at that time I had theability to do that.
Um, but I felt like I did thatin my with my classmates too.
Like I was taking headshots ofeverybody, and I think I just
had this like, I want to learnall facets of it.
(08:20):
And I also feel like honestly, Iwas thinking about this actually
this morning, that I came from ahouse that was really
servant-oriented.
If somebody was stopped, wewould never do this anymore, but
if somebody was stopped on theside of the road, my dad would
always stop to help them.
You know, if there was a kid whowas in a rough family situation,
my parents were always there toprovide, like, coming over, come
(08:42):
over and have lunch with us.
Our home was open to that.
Like, I feel like they reallycreated in us this like you
know, be a servant of all kindof a situation.
So I don't know, maybe there wassomething there to that, but I
think that just kind of wasnaturally in my system.
SPEAKER_01 (09:01):
Yeah.
At what point um in yourchildhood, or at what point did
you really realize this is whatyou want to do is take the
acting route and go intoHollywood?
SPEAKER_02 (09:11):
Well, my mom had a really my mom was really great
in that I really loved horses.
That was the thing I was gonnabe doing.
And I was so blessed by somegreat friends who really helped
me do that for a long time.
But she also saw in me thistalent, I guess, for um
performance.
And so she got all of us intothis acting school in in
(09:35):
Bellevue, Washington at thetime.
And they were the only schoolthat was teaching like on-camera
acting.
So she, in order to help pay forour lessons, she was like, Well,
my oldest can probably likeassistant teach or help out.
So that was another situationwhere I was there working and
learning from all of theseincredible teachers, and then I
(09:56):
was learning and then teachinglike the four-year-olds.
So I think it was through highschool that when I started
getting some awards and Istarted getting some like kind
of it really clicking that Iknew I liked it, but I don't
think I ever thought I would getto do it, to be honest with you.
So I think it was probably inthe made it was kind of a
(10:19):
gradual thing.
And I think I was on a comedytroupe in in college where four
of us girls were in a minivanand our school sent us out to
work at summer camps and doimprov comedy as well as be like
camp counselors.
And when I was there one summer,I felt a very strong um, I was
(10:40):
journaling and doing a lot ofpraying, and I just felt like my
hand take off.
And I just had this dream tomentor the next generation um in
how to do act, how to kind of umhow do church and faith, how
does that cross over with thearts?
(11:01):
I think there's a big gap there,like each one kind of doesn't
know what to do with the other.
And so I found myself in themiddle going, Well, I feel like
I've been called and created todo this.
So how do I reconcile that?
And it was never a problem in myhouse, but I saw it in the world
kind of like the this umdisconnect.
(11:23):
So I think it was that summerthat I felt like, oh, this might
be what I've been made to do.
SPEAKER_01 (11:30):
That's so beautiful.
It's interesting that you saythat you never saw yourself, you
know, having the opportunitiesthat you have, right?
Which is but like looking backnow, was there evidence or like
if you're to just look yeah,exactly.
SPEAKER_02 (11:47):
I mean, of course.
I mean, I think in all, youknow, like I was like Dorothy
and Wizard of Oz as a littlegirl or things like that, but I
don't think the television partof it or the film part of it, I
think just growing up inWashington, that just seems so
far away.
SPEAKER_03 (12:06):
It's like, how do you do that?
SPEAKER_02 (12:08):
And what does that even mean?
So I but I do think in highschool, like when I was working
at that acting school, there wasa lot of interest for me from
like some LA agents, and I had awoman there that kind of took me
down to LA, and I think that waslike the first time where I was
I don't know, maybe that was alittle bit of foreshadowing.
(12:29):
Probably I don't think everybodygot taken down to LA to like
agents and stuff.
So that I think probably thatwould have been something.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (12:38):
Yeah.
And so it's interesting too,because you get to read about
the characters that you'reauditioning for and hoping to
be, you know, play the role.
Um, I'm curious too what yourprocess is of selecting a role,
like also just gearing yourselfup for it, like the immersion of
it.
Like, what's your approach tothat as a professional?
And then then in Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (12:58):
Um, well, first of all, I'm always just grateful.
I don't really know.
I I think because now I'mobviously a mom of three kids,
and I am married, and it's avery different situation from
when I was single and couldchoose all my own stuff and
everything like that.
So I think now the job reallydepends on, you know, what it's
(13:22):
gonna cost me and my family forme to go and take it, and then
also the content of what it isand what it's putting out there.
Um, I think earlier on,obviously, you're just you're
just I mean, let's be real,you're kind of just like taking
jobs.
SPEAKER_01 (13:38):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (13:38):
Like if they come, you're just kind of looking at
them and saying, like, is isthis something?
I mean, for me with my personalfaith, it is is this something I
can stomach and do?
SPEAKER_03 (13:50):
That's the first thing.
SPEAKER_02 (13:52):
And then also just like, yeah, is this is this
worth doing?
Is it quality content?
Is it written well?
Um, all of that.
Um and then preparing for it'sreally fun.
It's a lot of like for me,finding like what the character
is gonna wear is really helpfulfor me, or what the props that
(14:12):
they would have.
Because to me, it really helpscreate how that character is.
Like when I was playing gettingready to play Audrey, this cop
on Haven, I I did a ride alongwith a cop in Pasadena who's a
short blonde girl, and Ithought, great, because I have a
really hard time believingmyself as a cop.
(14:33):
And so that's something Inoticed of her is she had this
bulletproof vest on, and shealways just like hung on to it,
like it was her overalls, andlike she could see everybody and
she could talk to her walkie andeverything like that.
But there's just like when youlike hook your hands into
something, there's just thiswith like confidence and it just
changes the way you are versushow I am.
(14:53):
So I think for me, a lot of isit is the external and
interviewing people and findingpeople.
And then recently it's been moreabout finding that personal
connection that makes it reallyraw and real and connected for
me.
Like, who is this person to me?
What is that other person inthis scene to me?
(15:16):
And that when I can find thathook, I think that real is
really helpful.
SPEAKER_01 (15:21):
That's so interesting.
It's um just reminding me, Ijust uh recently read uh Green
Lights by Matthew McConaughey.
And crazy book, crazy memoir.
Um, but what he he wrote thesame thing, you know, initially
at the beginning, as an actor,you had to take whatever you can
get paid for, you know, pay yourbills, whatever.
And also he was single at thatpoint, too.
(15:42):
Um and then he came to a pointin his life that he was like
realizing that A, he some of theroles he was playing was wasn't
what he wanted to be or do.
He went through this wholetransformational period and then
um again like took on excitingroles, but realized that the
characters he was playing wasmore interesting than his life.
(16:03):
So do you ever relate?
Do you ever feel like oh, likeespecially knowing story, right?
Being in the field that you'rein, you understand the story
arc, you you're really submergedinto that.
How do you parallel that withyour own story?
I'm curious.
SPEAKER_02 (16:18):
Yeah, well, I think for me, the hardest part is
finding that personal peace.
Like for Audrey on Haven for areally long time.
I mean, I played sevencharacters on that show, and one
of them was a really evil, evilvillain.
And there was a lot I couldn'tidentify with, you know.
But there was because I feellike I'm just like dee dee dee.
(16:40):
Like a knife, like, but but sheI I think honestly, there's
there is this like well, what isenjoyable about this?
And what would be tempting aboutthis, and what would be fun, and
kind of sinking into that, youknow.
Um it's interesting in thismovie, like for me with that
(17:04):
character, she is battling umrheumatoid arthritis and an
injury from very long ago.
And so something for me that Ihaven't experienced or had to
necessarily deal with is thislike prolonged pain, you know,
and kind of just being in thatposition and what that kind of
does to your spirit and yourbody.
(17:26):
But for me, it was just kind ofabout trying to immerse myself
in that.
There were other things I couldvery much connect to with that
character.
Um but when that part, that wasreally hard.
And I was afraid that I wasgonna forget it during the
course of the movie, like forgetthings like how her hands are or
(17:47):
how she holds her hips or any ofthat.
So I just tried to stay in thatas much as possible, which is
probably the most I've ever donefor a role, like to stay in
something.
I'm not usually kind of methodlike that, but for the
physicality part of this one, Ithink I had to be.
SPEAKER_01 (18:02):
Yeah, because you had to use a cane walking too,
so it was a little bit like bentover and all of that.
SPEAKER_02 (18:07):
Yeah, that's um I was so sore after shooting that
movie.
I had to go to our friend who'sa chiropractor, and I was like,
I need you to work on me becausemy body hurts so bad, and I
can't believe it like that.
It would just be from doingthat, but yeah, it definitely
was, and I was uh I was kind ofshocked by that.
SPEAKER_01 (18:27):
Yeah, um, who has been your favorite character
that you've ever played?
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(19:12):
Pennsylvania.
SPEAKER_02 (19:13):
I don't know.
I mean, I I loved playing Audreybecause I got to be six
different, seven differentpeople, and that was really fun
to do on one show.
But like I was just I lovedbeing on ER because that was
like all the doctor stuff, andshe was very much like kind of
oblivious and and just a quirkycharacter.
And then I did just watch ascene recently for something
(19:36):
else I was doing where I was onNCIS for one little episode, and
uh like I'm like smacking bugs,and then I'm totally dirty and
itchy, and like that's just fun.
But I think one project I'llalways, always remember was my
first big part, and that wasplaying on John from Cincinnati
(19:56):
with on HBO across from peoplelike Luke Perry and um Rebecca
De Mornay and Bruce Greenwoodand working with all these
incredible, incredible people.
Working with David Milch as awriter is something like you
just you just don't get that.
Like, and for that to be like myfirst really long-term job was
(20:18):
an honor.
And so I think that if I couldever go back to a show, I I
always think about filming inSan Diego on an HBO show with
David Milch was kind of thecream of the crop at the time.
SPEAKER_01 (20:32):
Definitely.
Yeah, it's beautiful.
So I heard you call your work asa mission field.
How do you bring faith into theindustry that you're in and the
environment into Hollywood?
SPEAKER_02 (20:43):
Yeah, it's really hard.
And I feel like for the longesttime, it's been something that
you kind of just like keep underthe radar, if I'm being honest.
Like you kind of feel like youhave to live it out more than
you're able to say it.
However, I think something I'vebeen learning in my faith is
(21:05):
that these relationships withpeople, they're gonna last
beyond the show.
And so you're making these likepeople will ask you questions
like, What did you do thisweekend?
Well, if I'm filming on locationin Nova Scotia and I don't have
a church, but I find a churchand I'm going there on Sundays
to make sure that I'm keepingthat in my rhythm, like they're
(21:25):
super surprised.
Like, wait, you went what youwent to a church?
Like, which church do you go to?
You know, things like that.
SPEAKER_01 (21:31):
And like why?
SPEAKER_02 (21:32):
Yeah.
Or if I'm just like, hey, I'llbe praying for you about that.
Like, that's like I really willbe praying for you about that,
or to hear things work out andto be like, oh my goodness, like
I was praying for you aboutthat.
That's incredible, you know.
Um, and then just having somelike deep conversations with
people that you become closewith, you know, about what's
(21:54):
going on in their life and maybewhy you're not making the
decisions you do, why you're notstaying out as late as
everybody, why you're nothanging out.
Like, just there's verydifferent choices that you end
up making that I think peoplereally notice, or I've noticed
people will be like, Don't don'ttalk like that around her.
Like, don't talk like I mean,what do you think I am?
(22:14):
Like, I'm not it wasn't moreyesterday.
Like, come on.
But I think people do notice.
I think as I've gotten older andI've moved and I live now in a
different part of the country,I've become a lot bolder with
what I believe because honestly,you know, my I think I think
personally early on, it was moreof a fear of you won't get hired
(22:38):
if people find this out aboutyou.
Like you won't get hired.
But I think recently there'sjust been this growing boldness.
And as I get older, I'm justlike, this is this is who I am.
Like, and there it should Ishouldn't be I shouldn't want to
cover it up at all, you know?
People who believe exactly whatI believe are still doing
(23:00):
incredible jobs in workingplaces, and it doesn't it should
not take precedent over myrelationship with the Lord.
So I've always envisioned itlike whenever I get sent to a
project, like that missionaryboard at a church in the hallway
where it's like we have peoplehere, we have people here, we
have people here, that wheneverI go on location, I'm like,
okay, yes, this is about theproject, but who do you have me
(23:23):
here for?
Help me have eyes to be open andnot so wrapped up in my
exhaustion and my lines and allthe little things I have to do
that I'm not seeing the personthat is right in front of me.
Because to me, what we get to dois just the anchor for the
conversations, like ineverybody's line of work.
(23:46):
It's just the framework, it'sjust the hanger by which we get
to exist with people, you know?
It's like I could go and, youknow, when I'm teaching, or I
could go and work at a cafe orsomething, and I would still be
there for the people.
I think that's what Jesus wasabout was the people.
So I just don't want to get toowrapped up in the job, too angry
(24:11):
about the job, to well, theyshould have been doing this, or
this wasn't, or the productiondidn't like that.
I am not going, wait, why am Ireally here?
How am I here?
SPEAKER_01 (24:21):
Like, let's keep that.
SPEAKER_02 (24:23):
Like, you know.
SPEAKER_01 (24:24):
Yeah, that's so beautiful.
I think the greatest gift thatwe can give humanity is seeing
people for who they are, right?
Accepting people and lovingthem, where they are, for who
they are.
And uh one of my favorite quotesis by Maya Angela, who said
something along the lines of um,your legacy is every life you
(24:45):
touch.
So it's not necessarily about,you know, doing that one big
thing or this big calling orthis big whatever, right?
It's it's the interactions wehave every day with people.
Yeah.
If we can be the light andradiate God's love to the people
we encounter on a daily basis,that's where it's at.
And I love that you're like,okay, help me not to get caught
(25:06):
up in my role in my mind,because there's someone here
that may need, you know, aconversation that may need to be
seen or may need to know thatthey're loved.
Um that's such a beautifulapproach.
SPEAKER_02 (25:18):
Yeah, well, and it's honestly, I just had to kind of
keep I've had this sort of likeepiphany lately that like if
we're going Bible, that likeAdam and Eve were in the garden
in perfect communion with theLord.
Perfect communion.
They had everything at theirfingertips.
(25:39):
They walked with him, theytalked with him, they had
everything provided for them.
And yet they were stilldeceived.
You know, and I just feel likewow, like I can think I have it
all together, or like everythingcan be lined up.
But I still in my humanness havethe ability to be deceived.
(26:00):
And so I think sometimes as likepersonally, I'll be like, oh,
well, I'm not like dealing withthat addiction, or I'm not
dealing with that, and so I'mdoing okay.
But we each have our own thingthat's gonna tempt us and pull
us away.
And so for me, I found being onset, I love it so much, it's my
(26:20):
jam.
I just feel so lit up when I'mthere.
I'm just like just all parts ofmy brain are on fire.
But I think I just have to likeI have to remind myself like to
not get caught up in thetemptation to get nitty gritty,
like offended or whatever.
Cause for me, that's where I'llstart losing my real focus or
(26:44):
why I'm there.
And so um I I do think sometimeslike that is a propensity that
we can have is be like, okay,well no, I've got this straight
now, I got this straight now,I've got this, okay.
All right, I'm I'm in my comfortzone.
But even there, like we have theability to in our humanity to to
(27:05):
make wrong choices.
So we have to stay awake and bealert and do whatever we can to
just continue putting the rightfoot right in front of the
other, you know.
SPEAKER_01 (27:14):
Yeah, absolutely.
Is there anything else thatlights your heart on fire
besides like being in the role,acting?
SPEAKER_02 (27:21):
I mean, my kiddos for sure.
My family, watching them likethrive is huge for me.
I really love like I I haven'tyet been able to do it, but I
just love creating.
Like I love, I'm hoping for theability to produce something or
to create something or to directsomething someday because I feel
like I can see it and I don'tthink everybody sees it.
(27:45):
And so it's like, well, why haveI been given this ability to see
it?
I hope I get to do that at somepoint, yeah.
But right now it's just been funto, you know, because life ebbs
and flows, and there'sdefinitely there's been seasons
recently for me of just drought.
And so to be able to come intothese projects and and be
(28:05):
reminded that this is a piece ofmy heart and what I've been
created to do, and then to getto like work on this project
where both of those things to meare coming together, and to be
able to do it, you know,hopefully with excellence, and
then to watch the whole rest ofthe team do it really well was
just is very exciting.
So I love creating with people.
SPEAKER_01 (28:27):
That's awesome.
Yeah, I love collabs too.
Um, with you mentioned likegoing through a season of
drought.
So, how do you stay encouragedin the middle of not getting
calls back, rejection,criticism?
You know, how do you sustainyour confidence and continue to
persevere through the ups anddowns of the I mean, I'll be
(28:47):
honest, I don't think I'm goodat that.
SPEAKER_02 (28:49):
I don't think great up with you.
I I have just had to go througha lot of like soul searching and
prayer because for us, we livedin LA for 15, 20 years and then
moved to Atlanta probably aboutfour or five years ago for our
kiddos.
And, you know, thinking thatthere would probably be more
(29:10):
here for me than there has been.
And so it's starting to likepick up now, which is very
exciting.
But um, in the interim, I thinkit's just like it was a big
weight of like, am I gonna lookback at my life, just constantly
look back at what I had?
Or am I gonna accept, like, hey,this is where I am now?
(29:31):
What are you calling what ismine to do today?
What am I supposed to do today?
And just continually asking,just in prayer.
I mean, honestly, that's all Ican do is just pray and just be
like, Do you want me to keepdoing this?
Like, is this what you have forme?
Is this my thing?
Is this your thing?
If it's your thing, let me knowsomehow.
And every once in a while, thensomething would pop up and I'd
(29:54):
be like, Okay, you know?
But just sort of accepting thatall of these seasons, like, I
think it I think out of school,when you start working and
you're working, working,working, you're working, you
hear of like actresses having ashelf life or whatever, and
you're like, nah, that's notgonna happen.
SPEAKER_01 (30:09):
Yeah, not to me.
SPEAKER_02 (30:11):
Not to me.
And then you're like, oh mygosh, it's happening to me.
And you just have to kind of forme, it's been about creating
other things, working on otherthings, and then also just
having some like real hardconversations and praying and
just being like, is this what Ineed to keep putting my energy
into?
Um, and I haven't gotten the noyet.
(30:32):
So I think it's just kind ofabout hanging on because every
person that I think who's doingit has just kept hanging on.
Um but in my life it's had to bewith like, you know, I think
with the with obviously withlike the Lord's blessing of
like, yeah, keep them.
SPEAKER_01 (30:52):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (30:53):
It's not easy though, I'll tell you.
SPEAKER_01 (30:55):
I believe you.
I believe you.
I know I know a little bit aboutrejections from publishers and
stuff, but yeah, I have a littletaste, you know.
But um one of the things I wasgonna ask you is uh what is a
legacy that you hope to leave?
Like if you were to imagine yourown eulogy, which I know it
sounds dark, but I have minewritten and I've talked to like
(31:15):
I just uh hosted my siblingmastermind.
We all wrote a eulogy and thenthey volunteered to read them.
It was the most beautiful thingthat uh has ever happened um
with my siblings.
Wow.
And um, so it's a powerfulthing, and I'm curious to know
like what would be your greatestdesire or ambition as a legacy
(31:41):
that you leave, Emily.
Hey, if this episode is speakingto you, can you do me a quick
favor and share it with a friendwho you think will also be
encouraged by it?
Because when you share or leavea review or subscribe, it really
helps us to reach moreincredible human beings like
you.
Thank you so much for being partof this journey.
SPEAKER_02 (32:00):
Man, that's a really that's a good question that I
want to keep thinking aboutactually, and I'm gonna I'm
going to keep thinking about it.
I think for me something thatI'm always impressed by when I
do go to funerals is thefunerals where people actually
(32:21):
are standing up and they'relike, like they had an impact on
my life.
Like they, like what you said,like they saw me, like they saw
where I was at.
And I think for me, I reallyhope that you know, beyond
whatever she did to this thisrole, whatever, like I'm very
aware that's all just gonna likego away.
(32:43):
Like it's really not anythingthat I think is super duper
meaningful at the end of yourlife.
Like at the end of your life, Ithink you just hope that all of
your children are around you andthat you people can say of you
that at least for me that I knowshe loved the Lord because she
always brought that into theconversation and that she loved
(33:08):
to worship because I loveworship and that she loved
people well around her, that shereally did try to love people
well.
And granted, I can be so ADD andall over the place like
legitimately.
So I I struggle with that andbeing going, like, man, am I out
(33:29):
of sight, out of mind?
Like, I need to check in on thisperson.
Because I'm not great at thatwith people that I think will
probably just always be around,which I know is not the case.
But I think that is as you'reasking that, that's what I would
hope.
I'd hope that each of my familymembers would feel that they
were loved well by me and thatthat I like just loved loved
(33:50):
people and loved loved to makethings.
SPEAKER_01 (33:53):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (33:55):
And make things and play with people.
That's what I really hope.
But it's a good question.
I'm glad you brought it upbecause you know, I do the I did
these things called um thepurpose-driven life.
And it's kind of that thought oflike at the end, like at the
end, you know, being intentionalwith your days because you're
(34:15):
building something to where youare at the end.
SPEAKER_01 (34:18):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (34:18):
What what does the interim look like on a daily
basis?
Because we can get so caught upin all these other things that
just really aren't gonna matter.
What's it gonna what is it gonnabe like at the end, you know?
SPEAKER_01 (34:32):
Yeah, yeah.
Which is why I think like theeulogy exercise is so powerful.
I've adopted it from BrittanyTurner.
I don't know if you know of heror not, but um she does a lot of
humanitarian work with umrescuing victims, uh uh
restoring veterans into um justthe people who are down and out,
and then um giving them apurpose, and now they go out and
(34:55):
rescue, they get trained in herisland in the British Islands um
through her retreat, and it's areally beautiful thing.
But that's something like herteacher had her do when she was
18 and it changed her life.
And like, imagine at 18 you'rewriting eulogy, it sounds really
weird.
And so, um, and it's funnybecause I've interviewed other
people and they're like, Yeah, Ihave my eulogy written.
(35:16):
Um, and I was like, Me too.
Are we weird?
SPEAKER_02 (35:19):
Yeah, no, it's great.
SPEAKER_01 (35:21):
But I think you know, it helps you to have like
knowing what your legacy isgonna be, what you're looking
for, so it helps you to say noto you know to the other things.
But I think only what'sbeautiful about your story too
is that um you said like theaccolades and all those things
don't matter at the end of theday, which is true to some
degree, right?
But I think they help youposition for influence and
(35:42):
impact.
SPEAKER_02 (35:42):
That's true, yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (35:43):
You know, because then you're able to collaborate,
you're able to use that to dogreater things, work and greater
collaborations have um an impactthat's powerful.
So you said you do someteaching.
Tell me a little bit about that.
SPEAKER_02 (35:57):
Yeah, I've always found that in the in-betweens is
what I call it, in thein-betweens, that a between jobs
and work, that teaching for mehas been a really great way to
feel like uh like I'm using whatI've been taught and giving
back.
So I'm currently teaching at aat a Christian private school in
(36:19):
our area, and I'm teachingacting for film and TV.
And it's just funny becausethese high schoolers, in some
ways, I'm like, y'all don't evenknow.
Like, like this is this is solike this is so great.
And I have to remember thatthey're just taking it as like a
high school class, like versuslike signing up for like a film
and TV.
SPEAKER_01 (36:39):
Yeah.
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (36:41):
But it's really neat because there I do get to
challenge them in those morepurpose-filled ways, you know,
like, hey, you you're young, yougo out there, you're auditioning
for stuff.
Do you take everything thatcomes to you?
Are you allowed to say no?
Yes, you're allowed to say no.
You are building what you wantto be doing and what you want to
(37:02):
continue to be called back for.
You are building that.
And when you're there, what elsedo you have?
Like if you're there being anextra or you're there and you're
getting treated horribly.
Like, what do you need to whathow how can you stay focused and
how can you give back and serveto people?
So for me, uh what I teach inthat class is not only the
(37:22):
skills, because honestly, Ithink film, it's like they may
or may not go on to auditioning,but they're gonna probably do a
lot of Zoom interviews and Zoommeetings and being present and
knowing about lighting andknowing about framing and all
that stuff is helpful for themin the real world.
But ultimately, too, I tellthem, you know, whatever you go
on to do, like we act, Iactually have them write not a
(37:43):
eulogy, but like a missionstatement, like for my craft or
for my jobs, what do I want tobe about?
Because it will help you likemake your decisions so that if
you see a paycheck or if you seethis star or if you see this,
you know, these benefits orwhatever, you'll be able to
hunker down and be like, okay,before that was even anything,
this is what I want to be about.
(38:04):
And if it doesn't line up withthat, like it, then you have,
you know, you have your answer.
So I love teaching and I'vegotten to teach at UCLA, um,
teach some really amazingstudents there.
And there I kind of taught justlike the real world, like we're
not just in class doing stufflike we took it out of the
classroom.
(38:25):
So they're doing filming withlike airplanes and people
walking by and all those things,so that they can really get
their legs under them for theamount of distractions that you
have to sort of clear out whileyou're actually filming
something.
Um, but then also in my classeswith like high schoolers or
whatnot, I'm just kind of tryingto integrate both their purpose
(38:46):
and what they believe they'vebeen made to do or help to find
that as well as what with whatwe're learning.
SPEAKER_01 (38:54):
Yeah.
If you were to go back to theyounger version of Emily, what
advice would you have for her?
SPEAKER_02 (39:01):
Oh man.
I think I just would I think Iwould want to say like it's
gonna be okay.
Like, because I was prettyearnest.
I mean, I had a lot of fun, butI was pretty earnest and like I,
you know, pretty serioussometimes about stuff.
So just kind of, you know, Ithink I was always, you know,
(39:22):
wondering or worried as like youknow, what what's gonna happen
or is something gonna go wrong?
And just being able to say,like, hey, it's gonna like
there's gonna be some reallydifficult times, but ultimately,
like, you're okay, like you'reabout the right things, and just
keep keep going, like no need tofreak out.
SPEAKER_01 (39:44):
Yeah, that's beautiful.
How do you think like motherhoodhas changed you in general?
I mean, I know you said that nowwith having kids, you have to,
you know, be aware of the rolesyou take and the timing and all
of that, the is essentially howit's gonna be taxing on your
family, right?
Yeah, but how has it changed youin general?
SPEAKER_02 (40:05):
I think, well, it was really cool because I
actually had my oldest son Mileswhen I was on Haven.
So I came back to work when Iwas six, he was six weeks old.
He was six weeks old.
I didn't know anything.
I was like the first time mom,and I'm just like mobying him,
and I'm like walking the set andlike handing them off to my
(40:25):
husband.
He's going to the trailer, I'mnursing and like hair and
makeup, and we're just doing it.
So I think what was great aboutthat was like I didn't, I was
surprised pregnant.
I didn't know that I waspregnant with him, and then I
was pregnant with him, and Ijust learned that like
production will deal.
Like I don't have to freak outabout them.
Like they will figure it out.
(40:46):
This happens all the time.
And I just came to the idea thatlike it's okay, like it's okay
that we have babies and do thiswork because I think there's
this feeling like, oh, I can't.
I don't know if I can have it.
No, it's okay.
Like, your life should not beput on hold.
Like they can figure it out.
And then once we all figured itout together, I was able to take
on more projects and just belike, no, it's okay.
(41:08):
This is how it's gonna work.
Like, I'll have my baby there ata lighting turnaround.
This is what like so that gaveme more confidence to just be
able like, no, it's okay.
Um, but then I think it also italso taught me not to be so
fixated and precious about onlike the work.
(41:31):
I mean, I I've had to, I look atyoung, like bright-eyed actors,
and I'm just like, you have somuch time to study this.
Like, you don't even know, youknow.
I'm like, I feel like an olddrama teacher where I'm like,
Herm, like you don't, youyoungins don't even know how
good you have it.
Like, you know, because I'mtrying to like do tapes in my
(41:52):
office, like, and I'll have likemy six-year-old pop in or
whatever.
Um, so I think it's just it'staught me not to be so precious
uh in in my head about work,like to come out of that and
just to be able to like have ahuge hug from my daughter, or
you know, go jump on thetrampoline with my son or
(42:15):
whatever.
It's just it's like life is lifeis so much bigger than this, you
know.
SPEAKER_01 (42:22):
Yeah, yeah, that's so beautiful.
What's a movie or a film thatyou have loved recently that
you're not in?
SPEAKER_02 (42:30):
Oh my god, that's a tough question.
Oh my word.
That's a you know, I find Ihonestly I have to think about
that.
I honestly have such a hard timewatching television and films
right now because I cannot watchthem without being like, wait,
(42:50):
did I work with them?
I need to where where was thisfilmed?
Who where was this filmed?
How did they get that location?
And I'm like sitting on iPhone.
SPEAKER_01 (42:57):
Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_02 (42:58):
It's like work for me.
So my my like husband is alwaysreally like he they watch so
much stuff, and I'm like, I'llsit down for a little bit and
I'll be like, Yeah, I can't doit, or I'll like I'll see how
it's edited, yeah, or whatever.
Um, but honestly, I mean I'vepopped in and out of it, but
I've really thought what theydid.
I mean, this is not a clicheresponse.
(43:20):
I really have liked what they'vedone, um, like with the chosen.
I thought I've just been superimpressed with the chosen and
how they've told those stories.
I love how they they make all ofthe disciples and everybody very
viscerally real.
SPEAKER_03 (43:38):
Like very viscerally real.
SPEAKER_02 (43:40):
I think it's totally worth people's time.
It's I think it's done so, so,so well.
You know, other than that, I'mkind of like watching Lego
Masters and and they haveSurvivor on.
I mean, it's kind of sad.
I need to, I'm like, oh, that'sa question I need to have a good
better answer for.
SPEAKER_01 (43:57):
Yeah, well, you usually ask people about books,
which I will we'll get to in asecond.
Um, with wrapping up thepodcast, I usually ask three
questions.
And one of them being is what isthe bravest thing that Emily has
done?
SPEAKER_02 (44:10):
Oh my gosh.
Okay, so for me, the bravestthing I've done, and I like I
know this is it because I couldfeel like my heart come out of
my chest when you said thatquestion.
So I was working on and stillI'm hoping to get made a um show
about the female pilots of WorldWar II.
And so we went to Sweetwater,Texas, and we were there at one
(44:33):
of the WASPs homecoming, whichis where all the families come
and we celebrate these women,and they have all of these
historical airplanes out on theairfield.
And so um I and I cannot believeI cannot remember which plane it
is off the top of my head rightnow.
But um I got to go up in in aWorld War II airplane, and it
(44:59):
was just the front and me in theback.
And it's like a vintage plane,and it's like a clear, you know,
um cockpit.
SPEAKER_01 (45:08):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (45:09):
All of the old, like all of the old like controls and
everything.
And I was like, I have children,I have children.
What am I doing?
I have children, I havechildren.
Um, I think it was a Mustang,actually, that we went up in.
And so, or no, it wasn't.
It wasn't a Mustang.
SPEAKER_01 (45:27):
And you probably hear like it rattling, right?
SPEAKER_02 (45:29):
Like the engine, everything sounds like it's like
shaking and right.
And you're like, This is an oldplane.
I'm going up in the air in anold plane.
We also got to go up in theplane that dropped um the first
parachuters out in Normandy, andwhich was huge and massive.
So I think going up in thoseplanes to me, especially the
(45:51):
smaller one, was probably one ofthe bravest things I've done.
And I I second and the mostexhilarating brave thing I feel
like I've done was when I was ona media tour for Uncharted, I
was visiting Petra in Jordan,and we were up on these cliffs,
and one of the horseback ridingleader guys was like, Come here,
(46:14):
and I was like, and I got up onthe back, bareback with him, and
he took off galloping across thetop of like these peaks in
Petra.
And I was like, I could die.
I could die right now.
I'm in where am I?
I could die.
But it was oh my goodness.
I'm very glad I did it.
SPEAKER_01 (46:33):
There you go.
Yeah.
Love that.
What are some pivotal books thatyou read in in at any point that
just were transformative foryou?
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SPEAKER_02 (47:21):
I think one of the most recent ones I've read that
has been transformative for meis one of it's called
Unoffendable.
SPEAKER_01 (47:31):
I heard of that one.
SPEAKER_02 (47:32):
Yeah.
And it was, I mean, it's intensebecause he, I mean, it's
hilarious.
He's very he's a very good,like, funny writer.
Um and it was all about just howeasily in our culture we are
just on, like we are justoffended about so many things.
SPEAKER_03 (47:54):
Yeah.
SPEAKER_02 (47:55):
So it was a real challenge.
Like it was a challenge atlistening to it as a reader,
because you just find yourselfgoing, yeah, but if this person,
oh yeah, but if this, you know,and it was just that challenge
of like, hey, what if we liveour lives like completely
unoffendable?
Like there's nothing you can dobecause we are just going to
respond in love and it'sultimately gonna be okay.
(48:16):
Like that's what we've beenasked to do.
And I just I was pretty rockedby it.
I d you know, I definitely thinkthere's things that I'm like
still thinking about, but themessage of it was really good,
and I think it's one that neededto be heard.
And I think the other one that Ithought was fascinating and
(48:39):
hilarious was this one's crazy.
It's called How to Stay Married: The Most Insane Love Story Ever (48:44):
undefined
Told by Harris and Scott Key.
SPEAKER_01 (48:51):
Oh, I read that and he was on the podcast.
Oh my gosh.
SPEAKER_02 (48:55):
My word.
Oh my gosh.
That book I could not put thatbook down.
That was incredible.
And then there's another reallygood one called What My Bones
Know.
Um, and it's dealing withtrauma.
Um, and that was reallyinteresting to hear her
perspective.
(49:15):
She was like an NPR kind ofinterview, interview person who
ended up going to a lot oftherapy, and the way the
therapist dealt with her andhelped her with her trauma was
totally crazy, like over GoogleDocs is how they did it.
And her story is superinteresting.
So yeah.
SPEAKER_01 (49:33):
And is that like a memoir?
Is it nonfiction or is it afiction is a novel?
SPEAKER_02 (49:37):
It's a it's a novel, it's called What My Bones Know,
and it's I think probably kindof in the memoir sort of
self-helpish kind of sphere.
SPEAKER_01 (49:49):
Yeah.
Yeah.
And then the last question iswhat is the best advice that
someone gave you?
SPEAKER_02 (49:58):
I mean, this is silly.
This is really silly.
SPEAKER_01 (50:01):
Hey, we'll take it.
SPEAKER_02 (50:02):
I don't think it's like the best advice ever.
I just think it's really silly.
But I think it speaks togratitude.
It's silly.
I don't know why it popped intomy head.
But when I was on Haven, I wasworking with Jason Priestley,
and he is such a sweet, amazingguy.
And he just kept saying to me,Emily, like, because we were
(50:23):
talking about the show and if itwas gonna end and if people
would renew contracts and allthis stuff.
And he's like, Emily, once youget on a pony, you just ride
that pony.
You don't try to get off thatpony, you just ride that pony.
And I was like looking at him,and I'm like looking at Jason
Priestley.
I'm like, but you're just like,you wouldn't, and he's like, No,
you've got to be, he's likepretty much saying, be as
(50:46):
grateful as you can for work.
Like, who are you to like not?
He wasn't saying this to me, buthe was like, Who are people to
just like decide they want tojump ship?
Like, I don't, he's like, Idon't think that's a smart way
to go.
He's like, once you're on thatpony, just ride that pony.
And I feel that now, I think atmy age, with seeing people and
(51:07):
kind of, you know, other friendskind of getting like a little
nitpicky or snobby about likethe work that they do.
I just want to be like, y'all,you're working.
Like, let's be thankful for whatwe have.
Like, and that's not to say thatyou can't aspire for more or
that people should treat youbetter than maybe they're
treating you, but I thinkthere's an element of gratitude
(51:30):
that people just abandon.
And I just think you've gotta besuper thankful for super
thankful for you know um forwhat you have.
And then I think one other piecewas from our pastor recently.
He just said in some of like thehardest times that we've been
(51:52):
going through, he justcontinually says, like, you you
just have to get on your faceand pray.
Like, just keep praying everysingle day.
Just keep praying, praying,praying.
Like, do not give up, just keepgoing, just keep doing that.
And that has been advice I'vedefinitely lived by recently.
SPEAKER_01 (52:11):
Beautiful.
Is there anything else, Emily,you'd love to leave the listener
with before we wrap up?
SPEAKER_02 (52:17):
Um I think if you if you can, and I mean I should
say, like, if you can and youwant to, I would encourage you
to go see an early Christmasmovie.
Yes.
November 7th.
I've watched it.
It's actually really cute.
And so it's something you cantake your whole family to, and
you will laugh.
(52:37):
And there's actually some reallygreat cast members in it.
And um, we're just really hopingthat people show out um that
first weekend, obviously.
And for me, personally, it's thefirst time I've ever led
anything that will be intheaters.
So for me, I'm just hoping thatpeople will show up and that
they'll enjoy it and tell theirfriends and family to come back
(53:00):
and get started on thatChristmas train early in
November.
SPEAKER_01 (53:03):
So love that.
Well, thank you so, so much foryour time.
It's been an honor.
SPEAKER_02 (53:08):
Um seriously.
Thank you so much.
Such a pleasure to sit with you.
SPEAKER_01 (53:13):
Thank you for listening to the Once Appear
podcast.
It is an honor to share theseencouraging stories with you.
If you enjoy the show, I wouldlove for you to tell your
friends, leave us a reviewerrating, and subscribe to
wherever you listen to thepodcast because this helps
others discover the show.
You can find me on my website,FetCub.
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Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The Bobby Bones Show
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.